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No look at London’s sights and places would be complete without an acknowledgement of the city’s history as a port. The 19th century tea clipper Cutty Sark is a perfect embodiment of the British capital’s relationship to the sea. The fastest ship of its time, the Cutty Sark recalls the era when Britannia ruled the waves. The ship was reopened this spring by the Queen herself, marking the end of a five-year restoration process after the vessel had been severely damaged by fire. “She was only designed to last 30 years, she’s now 143 years old,” Cutty Sark curator Jessica Lewis told CBS News. “She really is one of the fastest ships, and the most famous ships in the world.”